Topic: New England

Opinion: Israel is ready for peace. Are its neighbors?

The settlement freeze shows Israel is serious. But peace won’t become reality without an immediate and serious return to the negotiating table.

Houston mayor race shows progress - and limits - of gay rights

Annise Parker, who is openly gay, was elected mayor of Houston Saturday. It makes Houston the largest US city to elect a gay or lesbian mayor.

Dogtown

The strange history of an abandoned colonial settlement-turned-wilderness.

Wind energy industry looks to Copenhagen for a mandate

In an interview, Denise Bode, CEO of the American Wind Energy Association, says the industry needs a renewable energy mandate from the climate conference in Copenhagen and from Congress.

How do you say 'town hall meeting' in Mandarin?

After Obama's session with Chinese students, the Monitor's language columnist considers the nuances of town meetings, town-hall meetings, and town-hall-style meetings.

Upside-down snow pattern starts US winter season

Houston sets a record for early snow as pecan groves and cotton fields in the South get snow as well.

Thanksgiving Day: Pilgrims were a surprisingly worldly, tolerant lot

Pilgrims who braved the Mayflower were profoundly shaped by their 11 years in Leiden, Netherlands, where they arrived 400 years ago this year. Deeply devout, they were also some of the most tolerant among Puritan groups who headed to the new world.

In search of wild turkeys

Frequent visitors, the turkeys strut and scavenge and woo – but never when their son is home.

Lingonberries outshine Thanksgiving cranberries in backyard gardens

Thanksgiving is known for cranberries, but lingonberries make an excellent backyard substitute for gardeners in cooler climates.

Letters to the editor

Readers write about dressing children in camouflage, hurricane Katrina, Social Security, and Israel's stake in peace.

Five cities that will rise in the New Economy

From Seattle to Huntsville, Ala., five cities are poised to prosper in the New Economy because of exports, innovation, clean technology, and healthcare.

High unemployment means high military recruitment

Military recruits seek not just an adventure, but a much needed job.

Maine vote a devastating blow to gay marriage

Maine voters on Tuesday voted down a law that would have legalized gay marriage in the state. It became the 31st state to reject gay marriage at the ballot box.

Olympia Snowe's healthcare vote: unabashedly independent

Olympia Snowe was the only Republican to vote Tuesday for the Senate Finance Committee's healthcare bill. This is not the first time she has broken with her party.

Why aren't we harnessing waste heat?

In praise of verbal 'turn signals'

The Monitor's language columnist wonders whether we would ever get along without helpful words like 'albeit.'

California wants $4.7 billion in high-speed rail stimulus

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has applied for more than half the $8 billion allotted for high-speed rail. State officials say California's plan is the most shovel-ready.

Asters and goldenrod, perfect autumn garden companions

The two plants are ideal together – in legend and in the garden.

This week's Top 7 intriguing job offers

Fall foliage - Maine's fall colors look spectacular

Maine's fall colors are starting to dazzle. Where to drive to see the best fall foliage? Northern Maine is providing the best color.

Green Metropolis

A New Yorker writer examines that civic paragon of green living: New York City.

Homeless nuclear waste

Some 60,000 metric tons of radioactive waste is stored at nuclear power plants across the country, awaiting federal action that’s already a decade late.

A major price drop for solar panels

Solar power has suddenly become more affordable.